Q: MacBook Air 2013 Windows 7 freezes during installation

Ugh-  having the dreaded "Expanding Windows Files" getting stuck at 68% EVERY TIME.

This is my 3rd Macbook Air, and I've had no trouble installing Win 7 Pro in the past on the other two.

I've tried every method I can think of... booting from USB, Superdrive + USB, Superdrive only.. it all results in "Expanding Windows Files" EVERY TIME.  I've followed the direction to a tee, installing every OSX / Bootcamp update.

Also, I do have trackpad / keyboard support during installation, so it doesn't seem to be an obvious driver issue.

If anyone has slipped in to a resolution for this "Expanding Windows Files" freezing issue, please speak up.  I've been working on this for 8 hours now.

Well.. I guess I was just impatient.

After letting it sit for about 1.5 hours at 68%, it seemed to have overcome whatever inner demons were preventing it from moving forward, and its now moved forward to "Completing Installation"...

Thanks khsaechao!!!! Your solution worked for me! Yay!

Had the same problem, tried everything, but only khsaechao     solution worked. 

"- Put a copy of windows 64 bit iso on desktop

- Ran bootcamp wizard and selected create boot disk and download latest software (not sure exact wording but you get the idea)

- Ran bootcamp wizard again and only selected downloaded latest software

- Ran bootcamp wizard again and choose install windows"

I have also read that newer Mac Air's need to have the USB boot disk on the left hand side (some change in the USB ports).  I ended up having to unparition the drive and then rerun boot camp and install windows as it still wouldn't work if I held option down and selected the windows boot USB disk. 

Thanks

Here's how to fix the problem.

Macbook air 2011 freeze fix

1. Install Windows using Boot camp on battery power (AC adapter unplugged).

2. After the installation, right click on the power icon.

3. Click More power options

4. Click change plan settings for the balanced plan

5. Click change Advanced power settings

6. Select "PCI Express"

7. Selct Link state power management

8. Change Plugged in from Moderate to OFF.

Done! No more crashing. Now you can plug in your AC adapter.

Hi Everyone

I just purchased the new MacBook Pro 15" with Retina display, so far spent the last 10 hours trying to install windows 7 Ultimate.

I have to say my situation is a little different as I like in my previous MacBooks I install windows on the first partition so I can encrypt the windows system drive, it works like a dream on the old laptops but this USB3 is messing up everything... I dont think that the fact that I am trying to install it on the first drive makes any difference in this conversation.

I read all pages of this thread numeros times, I really tried everything and I still cant get any pad or keyboard controls when Windows starts up after the Restart:

1. I made the windows start up disk with the help of BootCamp on a USB drive and merged the windows ISO file togther with the bootcamp drivers - Didnt work.

2. I tried it from both USB Ports (both sides of the computer) - Didnt work

3. I tried having the windows startup disk on 1 usb port and the drivers (autounattend.xml and the 2 folders they come with) on another USB storage on another port - Didnt work

4. I tried another version of windows - Didnt work

5. I tried (i didnt understand the logic) to download the drivers again and merge them into the USB drive - Didnt work.

6. I tried another type of storage disks with no luck either.

I need the keyboard or mouse to complete the windows installation, how do i get that in another hacky way?

Thank you.

i think this will help.

read this,  

http://forums.mydigitallife.info/threads/35429-Could-someone-help-to-extract-the -Microsoft-s-generic-USB-3-0-drivers-for-me/page2

look for user mjgr33n floor#18.

he show the way to add usb3 driver in to boot.wim

what i tell you is,do the same thing to the install.wim.

after both wim file done the adding, it works perfectly.

Dear ensu1

I trully appreciate the help...

where are the boot.wim and the install.wim located, I cant seem to find them on the windows installation Thumb, or do you mean that i need to edit those files on the OSX operating system?

any more info will really help.

Thank you.

those wim files are in the folder name "sources".easy to find.

right click on the windows installation Thumb,and choose browse.

Hi Ensu1

Hours of work and I am getting close but not there yet.

I understand how to mount the drivers, I think my problem is that I dont have the correct drivers, from this link the download link doesnt work - http://forums.mydigitallife.info/threads/35429-Could-someone-help-to-extract-the -Microsoft-s-generic-USB-3-0-drivers-for-me/page2

any ideas which exact drivers would work?

much appreciated and best weekend.

Hi

Maybe the reason its not working is becouse I am using a USB 2 flash drive?

Thanks

hi, you should check your chipset,then goto intel to get the correct driver.

Hey,

i had the same thing as you with my macbook pro R 13in stoping at 65%

TRY this it worked for me!!!

1- go to this link and download the new windows 7 iso (its free) the link for the download is in blue.    http://techsavvystuff.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/issue-2-no-device-drivers-found.htm l

2 - Once u have installed windows 7 tho bootcamp, You need to find a Torrent file called (windows LOADER 2.2.2 by daz)  install LOADER 2.2.2 by daz on the windows. the loader will restart the computer and your windows shold be Activated!!!!

hope this helps.

it worked for me.

Is it possible to install Windows 7 on MBA without the 'Install Windows 7 or later version' option? Will the keyboard and mouse work when I go directly to my USB stick? I'm making my own partition from the disk ultility. Please help

this should help you!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxKdmaGzJcc